Product development: the making of the Abbott ARCHITECT

Area of Science:

• Medical diagnostics and instrumentation
• Product development and commercialization

Background:

• Laboratorians often lack insight into the complexities of instrument development and market launch.
• The medical diagnostics industry requires rigorous product development cycles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the product development pathway for diagnostic instruments.
• To illustrate Abbott Diagnostics Division's successful commercialization strategy.
• To provide a case study of concurrent engineering in medical device development.

Main Methods:

• Tracing the product development lifecycle at Abbott Diagnostics Division.
• Examining the specific case of the ARCHITECT system's design and market introduction.
• Highlighting the application of concurrent engineering principles.

Main Results:

• Abbott Diagnostics Division successfully navigated the instrument development process.
• The ARCHITECT system's design was recognized through industry awards.
• Abbott was named the 1996 Concurrent Engineering Company of the Year.

Conclusions:

• The described product development process is effective for bringing diagnostic instruments to market.
• Concurrent engineering principles contributed to the successful design and recognition of the ARCHITECT system.
• This case study offers valuable insights for medical device manufacturers.